Clt controller described incident when no traffic was observed on the departure runway but asde-X alarmed on false target with three departure aircraft.

Home

Browse by month

Random

Latest

About

Contact

Attributes
ACN	755826
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : clt.tower
State Reference	NC
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tower : clt.tower
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	climbout : takeoff
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : local
Qualification	controller : non radar
Experience	controller radar : 23 controller time certified in position1 : 13
ASRS Report	755826
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	none taken : anomaly accepted
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Navigational Facility
Primary Problem	Navigational Facility

Narrative:

I was working local control east. I observed a target on the asde-X display that I confirmed was false as I looked out the window. I informed flm of the target. I cleared a jet for takeoff and as the aircraft rolled it set off the alarms on asde-X indicating a potential collision. This situation was logged. Exact same occurrences for each of the next 2 departures. Finally after I demanded the equipment be taken off line or I be relieved of the position the flm put the asde-X in limited mode. When the false target disappeared; the asde-X was put back in full operation. Problem was never diagnosed or fixed.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: CLT CTLR DESCRIBED INCIDENT WHEN NO TFC WAS OBSERVED ON THE DEP RWY BUT ASDE-X ALARMED ON FALSE TARGET WITH THREE DEP ACFT.

Narrative: I WAS WORKING LCL CTL E. I OBSERVED A TARGET ON THE ASDE-X DISPLAY THAT I CONFIRMED WAS FALSE AS I LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW. I INFORMED FLM OF THE TARGET. I CLRED A JET FOR TKOF AND AS THE ACFT ROLLED IT SET OFF THE ALARMS ON ASDE-X INDICATING A POTENTIAL COLLISION. THIS SITUATION WAS LOGGED. EXACT SAME OCCURRENCES FOR EACH OF THE NEXT 2 DEPS. FINALLY AFTER I DEMANDED THE EQUIP BE TAKEN OFF LINE OR I BE RELIEVED OF THE POS THE FLM PUT THE ASDE-X IN LIMITED MODE. WHEN THE FALSE TARGET DISAPPEARED; THE ASDE-X WAS PUT BACK IN FULL OP. PROB WAS NEVER DIAGNOSED OR FIXED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.